1802: Prepaid letter from S. Paulo, September 3rd 1802 to Rio de Janeiro. This letter is the only known example with the S.PAULO postmark in red next to the prepaid postal marking of S. Paulo. This document is the earliest postal pre-paid document of all Portuguese colonies. In the XIX century, letters were sent with postage to be collected from the recipient. Very rarely was postage prepaid, and when that happened, the proof of payment was marked clearly with a postal marking “PAGOU O PORTE” but also with an inscription of the local, the date and the value paid, all signed by the postmaster: "Foram lancados no livro competente os 200 Reis do porte desta carta" (In the account book a sum of 200 réis, the rate of this letter, was inscribed. S. Paulo September 7th 1802 The Postal administrator ORNELLAS.). (T) (Image)

1811. Remarkable sixteen pages PREPAID court document, sent from Villa Rica (Minas Gerais district) on August 19th, 1811 to the Height Court in Rio de Janeiro. Official documents could be hand carried, as long as the postage rate was prepaid at the departing post office. In this case a 600 réis rate was prepaid (6th rate of 100 réis), allowing for it's hand carriage to Rio.Some small holes in the document, but in a general good condition. (M) (Image)

1815: Entire letter from Liverpool dated March 23rd 1815 sent to Rio de Janeiro with a rare manuscripted "M. 120" tax mark on front. Bears the very rare special large circular handstamp "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER LIVERPOOL" in red. This hand stamp was only used between September 1814 and July 1815 (compare Robertson). The "120" tax rate was announced at November 14th 1812 by "DECISÃO DO REINO nº 40" (Order to the Kingdon No 40) were it was indicated as the rate for a single sheet of paper carried by British merchant vessels. The M in the taxation mark is the abbrevation of "Mercante", the portuguese word for Merchant. (Image)

1820: The unique Va BELLA post mark. Entire letter from Villa Bella do Mato Grosso, dated June 2nd 1820, to Sao Paulo. For this franked letter a fee of 150 reis was paid, indicated by a inscription made my a post official named Ponte.The inscription “A mercê do sr. Avelar em (?) Goyaz” indicated, that the letter was (partly) hand carried. (Image)

1821: Official letter sent from Rio de Janeiro on December 13th, 1821 to the town hall of Rio Pardo with manuscript endorsement "Pelo Príncipe Regente", duly signed and dated on the back with additional "Public interest - Silveira". This letter was sent in a closed postal bag to Rio Grande post office, where it received a hand stamp and the Segura (registration mark) with the arrival date of December 30th (manuscripted).From Rio Grande this letter travelled to Porto Alegre, arriving on Janury 6th, and from there to Rio Pardo by special messenger with "Correio extraordinário". There it arrived on January 12, 1822 (manuscript remark by mail adminstrator Lima).The importance of this last letter lies in the inclusion of transport by "extraordinary mail". A scarce item from the dawn of the Brazilian Independence. Letter with the expected faults. Slightly repaired. (Image)